Enlarged Heart
Discussion
essexplumber said:
What broought this to your attention in the first place? Or was it just by chance it was discovered?
Short version is....January I lost my voice, after 6 weeks went to doc.
Doc sent me to an Ear Nose and Throat Specialist, who put me on pills for acid reflux. Apparantly my larynx is very irritated
Since then I have been coughin up blood first thing on a morning (bright red, mixed with mucus)
Doc then sent me for a chest x ray
Chest X ray showed lungs fine, but this enlarged heart problem
I have been diagnosed with high blood pressure as of yesterday (home readings again show 146/87 which while higher than some folks I have been told is OK)
Didn't have time to post in detail earlier.
Firstly, I am not medically qualified but I did have a similar experience a while back so I can relate to your anxiety and how it is probably making your symptoms worse.
Your GP is best placed to assess and advise you in the first instance. There are a lot of factors to take into account; your age, general health, family history, smoker / non smoker and several other risk factors. I suggest having a further sit down with your GP. If he / she feels you should start BP medication then it is probably wise to do so. You can come off it at later date if it is no longer required.
I would recommend that you see a Cardioligist for a consultation. If you have medical insurance or can pay privately then do so. If you have to go through the NHS then you may have to wait some time.
No offence to GPs but they are "General Practitioners" and don't always have the depth of knowledge to give you an accurate diagnosis in cases like this.
Try not to stress and good luck.
pp
pp
Firstly, I am not medically qualified but I did have a similar experience a while back so I can relate to your anxiety and how it is probably making your symptoms worse.
Your GP is best placed to assess and advise you in the first instance. There are a lot of factors to take into account; your age, general health, family history, smoker / non smoker and several other risk factors. I suggest having a further sit down with your GP. If he / she feels you should start BP medication then it is probably wise to do so. You can come off it at later date if it is no longer required.
I would recommend that you see a Cardioligist for a consultation. If you have medical insurance or can pay privately then do so. If you have to go through the NHS then you may have to wait some time.
No offence to GPs but they are "General Practitioners" and don't always have the depth of knowledge to give you an accurate diagnosis in cases like this.
Try not to stress and good luck.
pp
pp
Well to generally answer the question I'm 40, non smoker, no known family history as such (Grandma died at 92 of a stroke, but thats a good age anyway), I go to the gym at least three times a week (try for 5 if I can), think nothing of walking 6 or 7 miles so consider myself otherwise reasonably fit and healthy.
With regards to a cardiologist, can I insist on a referral?
On the topic of the GP I find it difficult to actually get to see one of them. The diagnosis was delivered by a nurse practitioner (who I don't like anyway), so one step down from the GP. I have a relative who is ex nurse (retired through a bad back), who I have spoken to this afternoon. She was horrified that I have been prescribed blood pressure meds without any blood tests. Is this correct?
With regards to a cardiologist, can I insist on a referral?
On the topic of the GP I find it difficult to actually get to see one of them. The diagnosis was delivered by a nurse practitioner (who I don't like anyway), so one step down from the GP. I have a relative who is ex nurse (retired through a bad back), who I have spoken to this afternoon. She was horrified that I have been prescribed blood pressure meds without any blood tests. Is this correct?
Wish I hadn't read this thread... I measured up at 187/142 a fortnight ago whilst playing around on a colleague's blood pressure monitor. A visit to the doctor confirmed that my BP was in the region shown on the BPM (evasive so-and-so hasn't confirmed the exact measurements) and I am now ramping up on Ramipril to get it down...
My dad died youngish from heart failure, and one of his problems was high blood pressure. I think I'd better have a chat about heart enlargement when I go for my next set of blood results next week.
My dad died youngish from heart failure, and one of his problems was high blood pressure. I think I'd better have a chat about heart enlargement when I go for my next set of blood results next week.
Insanity Magnet said:
Wish I hadn't read this thread... I measured up at 187/142 a fortnight ago whilst playing around on a colleague's blood pressure monitor. A visit to the doctor confirmed that my BP was in the region shown on the BPM (evasive so-and-so hasn't confirmed the exact measurements) and I am now ramping up on Ramipril to get it down...
My dad died youngish from heart failure, and one of his problems was high blood pressure. I think I'd better have a chat about heart enlargement when I go for my next set of blood results next week.
Sorry for the result, but if the warning does good......My dad died youngish from heart failure, and one of his problems was high blood pressure. I think I'd better have a chat about heart enlargement when I go for my next set of blood results next week.
I'm hoping mine is a false alarm, maybe yours will be too
It sounds like dilated cardiomyopathy.... Not always linked to high blood pressure (that's a bit of a red herring).
The condition is caused by either serious alcohol consumption, or it's hereditary or viral. Those are the 3 main causes - viral being the least understood, some think dental operations could also be a cause.
It is controlled by a small aspirin dose, beta blockers and ace inhibitors. these taken daily.
As mentioned earlier, the heart is less effective when enlarged.
Get referred to a cardiologist and have your condition confirmed. An 'enlarged heart' is almost certainly the condition I've described. I have it, so am very familiar with treatment etc.
Go see a cardiologist.
The condition is caused by either serious alcohol consumption, or it's hereditary or viral. Those are the 3 main causes - viral being the least understood, some think dental operations could also be a cause.
It is controlled by a small aspirin dose, beta blockers and ace inhibitors. these taken daily.
As mentioned earlier, the heart is less effective when enlarged.
Get referred to a cardiologist and have your condition confirmed. An 'enlarged heart' is almost certainly the condition I've described. I have it, so am very familiar with treatment etc.
Go see a cardiologist.
NDA said:
It sounds like dilated cardiomyopathy.... Not always linked to high blood pressure (that's a bit of a red herring).
The condition is caused by either serious alcohol consumption, or it's hereditary or viral. Those are the 3 main causes - viral being the least understood, some think dental operations could also be a cause.
It is controlled by a small aspirin dose, beta blockers and ace inhibitors. these taken daily.
As mentioned earlier, the heart is less effective when enlarged.
Get referred to a cardiologist and have your condition confirmed. An 'enlarged heart' is almost certainly the condition I've described. I have it, so am very familiar with treatment etc.
Go see a cardiologist.
Well sir, you have told me far more than my doc in that short post.The condition is caused by either serious alcohol consumption, or it's hereditary or viral. Those are the 3 main causes - viral being the least understood, some think dental operations could also be a cause.
It is controlled by a small aspirin dose, beta blockers and ace inhibitors. these taken daily.
As mentioned earlier, the heart is less effective when enlarged.
Get referred to a cardiologist and have your condition confirmed. An 'enlarged heart' is almost certainly the condition I've described. I have it, so am very familiar with treatment etc.
Go see a cardiologist.
The tablets thay I have been prescribed is listed as an ace inhibitor, taken daily. The doc said take at morning, the pharmacist said better at night, so who would you believe?
I guess if its alcohol that causes it, the simple answer is stop drinking?
daz3210 said:
Well sir, you have told me far more than my doc in that short post.
The tablets thay I have been prescribed is listed as an ace inhibitor, taken daily. The doc said take at morning, the pharmacist said better at night, so who would you believe?
I guess if its alcohol that causes it, the simple answer is stop drinking?
It's not necessarily alcohol, however that's certainly a proven link. I would certainly ease back on the booze if you like to get trousered occassionally.The tablets thay I have been prescribed is listed as an ace inhibitor, taken daily. The doc said take at morning, the pharmacist said better at night, so who would you believe?
I guess if its alcohol that causes it, the simple answer is stop drinking?
Ace inhibitors are usually taken in the morning.
As is often the case in PH, you are strongly advised to get a proper opinion, not off a forum!
Either spend a couple of hundred pounds and see a consultant, or get referred. What is your doctor suggesting to be the next steps in your treatment? It would be normal to be referred to a specialist to have the condition confirmed.
NDA said:
As is often the case in PH, you are strongly advised to get a proper opinion, not off a forum!
Either spend a couple of hundred pounds and see a consultant, or get referred. What is your doctor suggesting to be the next steps in your treatment? It would be normal to be referred to a specialist to have the condition confirmed.
Thats why I have asked here.Either spend a couple of hundred pounds and see a consultant, or get referred. What is your doctor suggesting to be the next steps in your treatment? It would be normal to be referred to a specialist to have the condition confirmed.
The docs answer is simply take some pills, which is an answer I am not particularly happy about.
daz3210 said:
Thats why I have asked here.
The docs answer is simply take some pills, which is an answer I am not particularly happy about.
Well it needs treatment (which, in part, you are receiving) and, importantly, a proper diagnosis which no GP is really qualified to give because it's a specialised area rather than a 'general' one. So you must get referred or just go and see a consultant for a few hundred pounds (making sure that you're not suddenly out of NHS care if you do this - I'm not sure how this works!).The docs answer is simply take some pills, which is an answer I am not particularly happy about.
Dilated Cardiomyopathy is a recognised condition which, with treatment, will not worsen and could improve. However, you need to know if it is this (I'll lay you a bet it is) and take steps to lessen the chances of it worsening.
I would suggest that you throttle back on the gym visits and try to take it a little easier until you know for sure what condition you have. The combination of high blood pressure and an enlarged heart is not ideal for pushing yourself on various bits of gym equipment. Will you do this?!
I'm deliberately trying not to alarm you (it's treatable) - but would really really ask that you go and get a proper diagnosis. Please?
I couldn't get past the receptionist to get a doctors appointment (again), but did get the alternative offer of getting the Nurse Practitioner (who I saw Wednesday) to ring me. Told the receptionist I did not accept this. So got the alternative of one of the new doctors to ring me (practice recently changed to more doctors).
Just got off the phone from him, it turns out his area of 'specialist interest' is cardiac matters.
Explanation if I understood him properly is along these lines:-
1. The xray report is non specific, and simply indicates that the circumference of my heart is out of range for what would be expected for someone of my age, weight, general build and gender.
2. To correctly diagnose whether I have a problem, I need an ECG (which I went for Weds Gone). This he says will tell him/them what area of my heart is enlarged, which will then give a pointer as to what is the cause and what is the treatment.
3. My blood pressure is raised anyway, so the ACE inhibitor is not a bad idea in the interim while waiting for the ECG.
4. I must take the medication at a time when I am not going to drive or operate machinery, he suggested early evening, and must monitor whether I have faintness or pass out. This he said can be an indicator of a blockage in (I think I got this right) the left ventrical. This needs a different/additional treatment, he mention beta blockers or something else.
5. He did mention something myapathy, which is another possible problem.
6. He told me that the gym is not a bad thing, and certainly do not stop going, but he said be aware of how I am feeling and maybe cut back from 90 min sessions to 60.
He also mentioned things like furring of the arteries etc and did say he was talking worst case scenarios, but that really he would want to wait until the ECG comes back before deciding what course of action to take.
Is that reasonable, or should I be demanding the cardiologist route now? ECG will be another ten days, which I am thinking is ten days less on a waiting list.
Just got off the phone from him, it turns out his area of 'specialist interest' is cardiac matters.
Explanation if I understood him properly is along these lines:-
1. The xray report is non specific, and simply indicates that the circumference of my heart is out of range for what would be expected for someone of my age, weight, general build and gender.
2. To correctly diagnose whether I have a problem, I need an ECG (which I went for Weds Gone). This he says will tell him/them what area of my heart is enlarged, which will then give a pointer as to what is the cause and what is the treatment.
3. My blood pressure is raised anyway, so the ACE inhibitor is not a bad idea in the interim while waiting for the ECG.
4. I must take the medication at a time when I am not going to drive or operate machinery, he suggested early evening, and must monitor whether I have faintness or pass out. This he said can be an indicator of a blockage in (I think I got this right) the left ventrical. This needs a different/additional treatment, he mention beta blockers or something else.
5. He did mention something myapathy, which is another possible problem.
6. He told me that the gym is not a bad thing, and certainly do not stop going, but he said be aware of how I am feeling and maybe cut back from 90 min sessions to 60.
He also mentioned things like furring of the arteries etc and did say he was talking worst case scenarios, but that really he would want to wait until the ECG comes back before deciding what course of action to take.
Is that reasonable, or should I be demanding the cardiologist route now? ECG will be another ten days, which I am thinking is ten days less on a waiting list.
Edited by daz3210 on Friday 13th April 12:58
Maybe I can help, I've some experience of Cardiac abnormalities but might be a few years out of date.
The enlarged heart will have indeed shown up on x-ray as being out of proportional limits with respect to other internal structures. It's less likely for you to have tiny lungs, liver, diaphragm etc. ;-)
What the x-ray doesn't define is whether the overall size increase is due to more muscle mass (probably the most likely based on what you've said re. blood pressure and training) or dilatation (dilated cardiomyopathy or other causes but less likely if there's no family history or other suggestive symptoms such as excessive tiredness, fluid retention or shortness of breath). The ECG will help answer that question, essentially more muscle mass = bigger muscle depolarization voltages = bigger spikes on the ECG. This is the Left Ventricular Hypertrophy bit, I agree 100% with what Honk said on P1.
So what to do next? - This is unlikely to be a new thing, 10 days is not long in the grand scheme of things and if steps are now being taken to reduce your known high BP that's a good thing. It sounds like the ECG will be interpreted by a Cardiologist (where did you have this done?). If abnormal the next step would probably be an ultrasound scan of the heart, also known as an Echocardiogram or Echo to measure heart chamber sizes, wall thicknesses and valve function. This may be organised by your GP or may be incorporated with a referral to a Cardiologist, certainly a specialist would interpret and report on the results.
If things are confirmed as I suspect, Left Ventricular Hypertrophy due to uncontrolled BP, + or - some influence from your training regime (the heart is like any muscle, work it harder and it will get bigger) then things should return to normal over time once your BP is under control.
In short, I think steps and progress so far are reasonable. Sorry it's not a typical shouty 'demand more action now, PH answer....
Good luck,
DE
The enlarged heart will have indeed shown up on x-ray as being out of proportional limits with respect to other internal structures. It's less likely for you to have tiny lungs, liver, diaphragm etc. ;-)
What the x-ray doesn't define is whether the overall size increase is due to more muscle mass (probably the most likely based on what you've said re. blood pressure and training) or dilatation (dilated cardiomyopathy or other causes but less likely if there's no family history or other suggestive symptoms such as excessive tiredness, fluid retention or shortness of breath). The ECG will help answer that question, essentially more muscle mass = bigger muscle depolarization voltages = bigger spikes on the ECG. This is the Left Ventricular Hypertrophy bit, I agree 100% with what Honk said on P1.
So what to do next? - This is unlikely to be a new thing, 10 days is not long in the grand scheme of things and if steps are now being taken to reduce your known high BP that's a good thing. It sounds like the ECG will be interpreted by a Cardiologist (where did you have this done?). If abnormal the next step would probably be an ultrasound scan of the heart, also known as an Echocardiogram or Echo to measure heart chamber sizes, wall thicknesses and valve function. This may be organised by your GP or may be incorporated with a referral to a Cardiologist, certainly a specialist would interpret and report on the results.
If things are confirmed as I suspect, Left Ventricular Hypertrophy due to uncontrolled BP, + or - some influence from your training regime (the heart is like any muscle, work it harder and it will get bigger) then things should return to normal over time once your BP is under control.
In short, I think steps and progress so far are reasonable. Sorry it's not a typical shouty 'demand more action now, PH answer....
Good luck,
DE
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